Letting Go

I have been struggling lately with my daughter's choice in extra curricular activities. This is an inner struggle that I realize and acknowledge, but I think I have let some of my innerness seep out.

My daughter is very talented (for her age) in ballet. She also shows tremendous potential. She was one of a handful girls advanced to the lower pre-professional level for the fall. Except she wants nothing to do with ballet this fall. Nothing. At. All.

Let me remind you this is something three years ago I wanted her to have nothing to do with. Now I am having a hard time letting her step away. Crazy mama here. I wanted to watch her excel. I wanted to have the kid that is advanced. I wanted to watch her do the Nutcracker just like I did when I was little. I wanted to be the costume seamstress. Then I realized I was saying 'I' instead of 'She'. So I have come to peace with the closing of this door. Yesterday was her last class.

This class was the parent observation day. The whole family came. I stated at dinner to Elli, "We are going to Brady's ballet class." Elli simply replied, "No, Elli's class." She had already had me do a bun in her hair when I fixed up Brady's hair. Luckily I had a tiny pair of dance shoes in the car as well.

Elli walked right into that studio and straight to where all the 6-8 year olds were. She honestly believed it was her turn to dance.

 We politely scooted her over to the side but she didn't stop imitating what she saw.

 Then today, she got into the bun making supplies, asked for a bun and her ballet shoes.

"When one door closes, the two year goes and opens it back up"

DC in 1.5

We headed to the DC for the weekend to see our good friends that recently moved there. We had 1.5 days to fulfill a few requests: see our friends (Reese's request), go to the air and space museum at Dulles (Karl's request), see the Lincoln Memorial (Brady's request). My request of Ikea did not make it on the itinerary, boo!


First stop was the air and space museum. There was a observation tower for Dulles that played the air traffic controls radio. Karl tried showing them the mountains and the runways...

 but they were interested in finding our van!

 Another exciting part of the museum is seeing the Discovery Space Shuttle. The girls' fact they took away... the women were allowed small makeup bags!

 I was personally amazed by the heat proof exterior.

 For the afternoon we meet up with our friends at the local splash pad. You know that made these little ones happy.

 Then for the evening a dinner gone wrong (diet restrictions are not easy) and a sleepover that included milkshakes and the movie Frozen. Again, happy, but tired little ones.

The next morning time to ride the Metro into the city. Remember getting there is half the battle fun!

 Reese did also request to meet the president. Unfortunately, we had to cancel on him because we were too busy.

 Comparing feathers, now that is what we came to DC for. Really! It isn't what she is doing but who she is doing it with.

 I said after we hiked the length of the reflecting pool "Girls, turn around and look back at the Washington Monument". Not a one cared or even heard me... What was I thinking... There were baby ducks!

 Why look at that view behind us, when there is baby ducks in front of us?

 I will follow this wonderful lady anywhere she moves...no, really, I will. In less than a year, for the third time I will move into the same state as her. We have done Florida together, Virginia together and soon be in Maryland (maybe) together.

 Brady got to see her much requested statue. At the end of the trip home she proclaimed "My dream came true! I got to see the Lincoln Memorial!" That alone made the madness of the trip worth it. She actually appreciated the trip.

 DC trip isn't complete without a food truck stop!

A new outlook on Two

My favorite age  is  was 12-24 months. Elli has showed me that two is awesome. I love her at this age. Daily smiles and laughter, people.

Two= sweeping in high heels and a cape

 Two= sporting 'boo boo knees' with her gym leo and requested 'pigtail in the back'

 Two= kissing the daddy that just feel from the dining room chair

 Two= proclaiming you are Elsa at least once a day

 Two= getting into sister's rainboots, getting them to open the door for you and finding a puddle

 Two= pinchable cuteness

 Two= figuring out how to get dizzy

 Two= learning how awesome Daddy is and trying to do what he does

 Two= still giving snuggles to Mommy even though you figured out how awesome Daddy is!

I love TWO!

A top ten for the last ten

The Top Ten Bests of the Last Ten Years

10. The in betweens. You know, those times when there is nothing big happening, nothing to celebrate but life itself. Those are the times that you are really living and loving. So maybe you celebrate the color purple, because you can!

9. Getting to have honeymoon periods over and over again. We can thank the military for this one. There is the downside of being apart often, but my cup is half full, people. So I see it as a chance to run into each others' arms in sheer joy at the end of the apartness.

8. BO... yes, we love each other's body odor! No, BO was the call sign for Brady in utero.

7. Dash-2... Second pregnancy, second girl, but a whole new piece of work

6. Dale... Last but certainly not least, Elli, our little fighter, would not let you consider her as least ever.

5. Leaving stereotypes at the door. Men don't always grill and mow, women don't always scrub the toilets and do dishes. We found each other and compliment each other VERY well.

4. Exploring new activities together. From kayaking the cove on our honeymoon to zip lining for our 10th anniversary.

3. Riding the roller coaster of Karl's naval career. There have been high fives of joy, and pats on the back of pride to smooth over rejection. There have been expected deployments untraveled and unexpected missions avenged. We have 'seen the world'; the world between Pensacola and Norfolk. There have been stories shared in immense detail and classified adventures untold. Without the ups and downs, the roller coaster would not be fun.

2. Learning who we are as an individual by being part of this union of two. You quickly learn what your true priorities are in life when you are in a partnership.

1. Making it to today. Because every new day together is my favorite day. One in three marriages have fallen apart by 10 years. Proud that we are stronger now then ever.

What a lovely decade it has been...I will double down on that!

Rising 2nd Grader

This is getting real people. I am the mother of a rising second grader. No turning back now.

Let's view Brady's first and last day of school.

Now while Brady didn't sprout quite like Reese. She only grew a measly 2 inches compared to Reese's three. Brady was too busy absorbing all the teacher has to offer. Like how to read like. a. PRO! Brady advanced from a later kindergartner reader to a early 3rd grade reader during this school year. The first timed math test they took, only one kid got them all right the first try...yep, my kid! She got the citizen of the month in November and Star Student in June. She was voted "most wants to be the teacher" by her class.

I don't think I was prepared for how well public school would suit her. I really do like, no love, montessori school but for Brady the structure of public school is more comfortable for her needs. This comfort allowed her to excel to new heights. The school system identified Brady as gifted and she will be in a cluster class (about one third of the kids share the label) next year. A resource teacher will come in regularly and supplement the cluster with brain stretching material.

Next year is going to be a great year too, I can feel it!